Charges have been filed against two people in regards to the three dead dogs found in dumpster behind a shoe store in Charlotte earlier this month.

82-year-old Diane Willis of Brookfield Township is charged with one count of abandoning/cruelty to an animal. 44-year-old Sonny Lee Rounds of Eaton Rapids is charged with Improper Burial of an animal. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Investigators says Willis admitted to owning the dogs, who were found dead on her property. Rounds was asked to bury the dogs, but because the ground was frozen, he disposed of them in a dumpster behind the Payless Shoe Store in Charlotte instead.

Upon investigating, Eaton County Animal Control also removed 15 dogs, 6 cats, 3 rabbits and a large number of birds from Willis' home. Several of those animals have been put up for adoption or are getting medical care.

Rounds has pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced on April 3. Willis was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty. A pretrial conference is set for next week.

In a statement released Friday, Eaton County Prosecutor Douglas Lloyd said, "It is important to remember that when you take on the responsibility of an animal, you become its caregiver. There are many agencies in our area that will help people who are struggling to care for their animals. Neglecting pets and other animals due to weather or other issues is not an excuse and is not acceptable."

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.